"This is a difficult situation for me, Steve Price is a good friend of mine and we have worked closely together and I would have liked us to work through these tough times as one.

"This change will be a new challenge for the players to face but we have a good football team and good group of men."

After rattling off three wins to start the year, the Dragons have lost six of their last seven games to sit 13th on the ladder.

That stretch included a 36-0 drubbing by Parramatta in round 10, a 32-point loss to the Bulldogs a week earlier, and 20-point losses to the Roosters and Rabbitohs in rounds eight and five respectively.

Price failed to fill Bennett's boots

Bennett

Price

3 ('09-'11)

Years

3 ('12-'14*)

79

Games

52

51

Wins

22

27

Losses

34

65%

Win%

39%

* Only coached 10 games in 2014

Former assistant Price took over the reins for the start of the 2012 season when Wayne Bennett departed for Newcastle, having brought a long-sought premiership title to the joint venture in 2010.

Price was unable to bring similar success but Doust said he still had the club's ultimate respect.

"Steve Price is leaving with a great history at the club," he said.

"He's to be respected for his contribution in many, many ways. He's a guy of high integrity and we wish him well for the future.

"We will now embark on a serious program to search for a coach for 2015 and beyond."